Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-04-23
THE INSTITUTE.
The Teachers Finish the Labor {
Yesterday.

4
Yesterday.
il Ye lay the Teachers Iustitut
br It 10 close its highly interesting
instructive session. These institute
lre great benefit to the cause OF edu
cation and the past one has been NOR
than usually instructive. Following il
q report of the closing exercises.
The Grammar section of the Institntt
met in the Spring street school; Ih'
lrst subject considered was "Phys'cs
What Part Of the Text. Book shall bs
Omitted ?" by +. E. Little.
He thought that it should be the ar
of all teachers to find the best mode oi
instruction. Physics elevate, bring a
plan of thought 10 the individual, where
he is placed on higher plano and /:
therefore one of the most important
subjects in the school curriculum. Ora
lessons should be given seven in the
primary grades. The three qualities OF
the mind are memory, perception and
Judgment, and he thought the first oi
them was poorly disciplined in many
schools. Attention must be attained in
order to cultivate this; and he consid
cred the best way to do this was to re quire
pupils to learn the lessons in the book
verbatim. He would not require this in
physiology or history, but he thought it
best in mathematics. The finer
textbook tcholars take, the bet er
they can ,ncen:rate their mind upon
them. When apparatus can not be had
for physics, the diagrams, representing g
the experiment should be put on the
board. Iu this subject he would omit
light, The pendulum, magnetism and all
the examples unless there is plenty OF
time. Discussions on the subject then
followed. Professor H. T. Pierce thought
Avery's elements of Philosophy" too
much for grammar schools, and consid.
cred the 'First Principles" as a better
treatise for young students. Mr.. Hen
derson thought the ship should be
studied in physics as we'll as the steam
engine.
| Other discussions followed, and after
a short recess, Miss Monks, of the Nor
nal School, discussed the subject Of
| "Zoolo2y." The speaker stated that
the only true way to study this subject
is orally and with specimens. The
scholars should draw the speci.
mems and then learn to classify
them. First teach the struc'
ture, the organs ana the special senses,
then take up special peculiarities, dis.
tribution and habit. She showed by
drawings how shs would teach and ex-
plain the different divisions of the animal
kingdom. One of the special points
argued was that the speaker would begin
at the lowest order and take the various
classifications to the highest.
A discussion followed as to when TO
hold regular county examinations in the
different schools. Some favored the last
week of May, others the first week of
June, but no definite conclusion was
reached.
INTERMEDIATE AND PRIMARY.
These two sections met together
in Masonic Hall. The first subject
discussed was Natural History for
Children" by Miss Monks. The fol-
lowing is brief synopsis of her instruc.
ton: There is no use in teaching such
works as Antique or Egyptian Zoology,
as they mean nothing to children. The
old. time way of memorizing is giving
place to better. Let the child draw O
comparison between himself and the
various animals. The speaker drew
butterflies and other insects on the board
to show how lesson in natural history
may be made interesting to young schol.
ars.
The following is brief statement of
A, w. Plummers' address or "Health:"
"It is the plan of nature that all life
should bs created and remain 10 health.
Ill health is only punishment for some
violation of the laws of natare. Dea b
should only come by accident or by
gradual wearing out OF old age. We
cannot teach children everything, but
often the six.year old understands more
than We think. We can teach them the
need Of cleanliness, the necessity
of cool heads, warm extremities and
pure air. A chemist has said that the
civiliz ,tion of nation coa.d be tol by
the quantity of soap they use. Children
should have frequent change OF position
in the school room. 1t is not work that
kills, but mono.ony. We can have q
healthy lesson only with hsalthy body.
He reviewed contagious diseases, and mem
toned the cure and prevensatlves thai
should be used to avert these.
Mrs. M. NJ. Hewes then brought
class of little children before the teach.
ers to show how she taught clay model.
ing and clay moulding boards were
passed to the scholors and they went TO
work with will, forming and describ-
ing cups, baskets, beets and other de-
signs with considerable accuracy.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
At the opening of this, the last session
of the Institute, vocal solos We're given
by Mis-. Pauline Wright and Miss Pearl
Gleason.
After this, the subject omitted in
Thursdays programme, "Shall Friday
Afternoons be Devoted to Rhetoricals?'
was taken up, and brief discussion by
Messrs. F. E. Little and j. N. Pember.
ton followed. Both gentleman favored
devoting at least a portion OF this time
| to the work.
State Superintendent Ira G. Hoitt and
Assemblyman J. r. Briefly being pres
ent, both gentleman briefly addressed
the meeting.
1t was moved and, seconded that the
reading circle be formed. The following
teachers were appointed to act as
board Of directors, with the County Su'
perintendent: A. w. Plummer, +. II
Clark, C. L. Ennis and Mrs. E. I.
Pierce.
It was then moved and seconded that
Prof. L. T. Pierce should act as dele
gate for Los Angeles county at the Ma.
tional Teachers convention, to be held
in Chicago the coming July.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
The following resolutions were pre-
ed by the committee and unanimously
adopted:
| WHEREAS, Our former co-laborers
Mary A. Hodgkins, G. nj. Poughton
Carrie Wood aud G. Lindsay have beer
removed from our midst, be it